Related Stories

There are more signs of economic slowdown in the U.S. economy as auto sales and construction spending both weakened in the latest reporting period. But VOA's Barry Wood reports business economists meeting in Washington say a weak housing market is the principal challenge facing the U.S. economy.
Auto sales by U.S. car makers fell more than expected in February while overall manufacturing registered its biggest decline in nearly five years. Construction…

A rate increase by Australia's central bank is putting a heavy burden on many of the nation's homeowners. Rates have been increased to more than seven percent, in a move aimed at curbing rising inflation. Phil Mercer reports from Sydney.
Australia's central bank has raised its key interest rate to its highest level in 12 years, in an attempt to combat inflation.
The hike takes the cost of borrowing to 7.25…

U.S. stock market indexes were mixed in Tuesday's trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost one-third of a percent (44 points) to end at 12,215, and the S & P 500 was off 0.3 percent (five points) to finish the day at 1,327. But the NASDAQ gained about 0.1 percent (two points) to hit 2,260.
European stock markets were lower at the close of trading. London's Financial Times 100 index dropped nearly one percent (51 points) to hit 5,768. The CAC-40…

Foreclosures hit an all-time high in the United States in the last three months of 2007.
A report Thursday from a business group says the number of U.S. homeowners who defaulted on their loans rose to just a bit over eight-tenths of one percent.
Banks try to sell foreclosed homes to recover the money owed, but this flood of homes on the market is one reason for declining home prices.
Those prices have not yet fallen low enough to boost sales. A…